Spike-lock for railways.



PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904.

H.H.HUNT. SPIKE LOOK FOR RAILWAYS'. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 22, 19.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented October 25, 1904.

HOWARD H. HUNT, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS.

SPIKE-LOCK FOR RAILWAYS.

SPECIFIGATION'forming part of Letters Patent No. 773,147, dated October 25, 1904.

' Application filed June 22,1904. Serial No. 213,648. immo al.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HOWARD H. HUNT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sterling, in the county of Whiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spike-Locks for Railways; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has reference to spike-locks for railways, and aims to provide a novel means for preventing the rising of the spikes outof the ties, the chief advantages of my device being its simplicity and cheapness of manufacture. Articles of this kind are too well known in the art to require any further expositlon of my invention at the present time.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows one of my devices in side elevation when in position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a section of rail with my invention in position thereon. Fig. 3 shows my device in perspective before it is secured in place. Figs. 4 and 5 are details illustrating modified forms of my device in' plan and end elevation, respectively. Figs. 6

and 7 show another modified form, also in plan and end elevation.

In the several figuressimilar ordinals refer to similar parts.

1 represents the usual rail, 2 the tie, and 3 3 the spikes securing the rail thereto.

4 is a metal plate adapted to be held beneath the rail and project a sufiicient distance on each side thereof to engage at each end one of the spikes 3, the plate 4 being provided at its ends with perforations 5 to permit the passage of the spikes. At each end of the plate 4 is a projection 6, adapted to be turned upwardly over the heads of the spikes when the same are in place and prevent the upward movement thereof.

To secure the lock in place, one of the ends is turned upwardly at right angles, as shown in Fig. 3, and the plate driven beneath the .the rail down.

rail on the upper face ofthe tie until it is in the proper position for the passage of the spikes. The spikes are then driven into the tie. through the openings 5 and the ends 6 bent over the heads of the spikes, locking the same firmly to the rail. When desired to replace the tie, the ends 6 can be bent upwardly and the spikes removed.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is shown a form of the device wherein the projection 6 is replaced by two plates 6 transversely of the end of the plate 4 and adapted to be turned over the head of the spike from each side.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is shown a form of my invention wherein each end of the plate 4 is provided with a recess 7 in place of the opening 5 for the engagement of the spike and a lateral projection 6, adapted to be bent over the head'of the spike sufficiently to lock the plate thereto. This form of my device can be secured in position when the spikes are in place by first driving them beneath the rail near the spikeandthen laterally into contact therewith.

It will be seen that when the device is in position the several parts involved are firmly united, ,the plate 4 being held down by the weight of the rail, the projection 6 holding the spike down, and the spike in turn holding In addition to this the movement of either spike away from the rail is prevented by reason of the other end of the plate 4 being clenched against the spike on the opposite side of the rail and indirectly to the rail itself. In fact, one end of the plate 4 can be clenched directly to the rail, engag ing a spike at the opposite end; but by so doing a separate plate would be required for each spike and about double the amount of material required. In the double use of the plate a bond is established between the two spikes, which greatly decreases the danger of the spreading of the rails. Whereas in the present use the'lateral movement of the rail is prevented by a series of spikes on one side thereof, and by the use of my device the inclination to spread is resisted by two series of spikes, one on each side of the rail.

As in practice the spikes are set in a tie in staggered relation to each other on the opposite sides of the rail, I have shown them in such position in the drawings.

It will be apparent that my invention can be easily stamped from sheet metal of suitable thickness; but it can be constructed of any metal possessing the requisite degree of flexibility to permit the bending of the ends above the spike-heads.

Not only can my device be manufactured from a minimum amount of material, but after it is formed no bolts or other auxiliary means are required to secure it in place.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s

1. A spike-lock for railways, comprising a metal plate, extending beneath the rail, transversely thereof, adapted to engage a pair of spikes secured in the tie on opposite sides of sage of the spike;' a projection, adapted to be bent over the head of the spike; and means for securing the other end of said plate on that side of the rail opposite to the spike, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HOWARD H. HUNT. Witnesses:

I. L. WEAVER, F. A. GOULD. 

